Tree Hole Invertebrates

Tree holes contain diverse communities of aquatic invertebrates, some of which are also found in bromeliads and other phytotelmata, and some others which are tree hole specialist. The Srivastava Lab started studying the ecology of natural and artificial tree holes in northwestern Costa Rica in 2011. This is a field guide to the species encountered in forest patches around Estación Biológica Pitilla and sectors Santa Cecilia, La Josa, la Esperanza, Brasilia, Macori and Los Palmares.

Identification of culicid larvae was possible thanks to invaluable help from Luis Guillermo Chaverri, from InBio.

Species listed by family

• Ceratopogonidae

  • Ceratopogonid sp A

• Chaoboridae

  • Corethrella sp A

• Chironomidae

  • Chironomid sp A
  • Chironomid sp B
  • Chironomid sp C
  • Chironomid sp D

• Chironomidae: Subfamily Tanypodinae

  • Chironomid sp E

• Culicidae

  • Aedes sp A (Culex mollis)
  • Aedes sp B (Aedes sp.)
  • Aedes sp C (Haemagogus chalcospilans)
  • Anopheles sp A (Anopheles argyritarsis)
  • Anopheles sp C
  • Culex sp A (Culex urichii)
  • Culex sp B (Haemagogus janthinomis)
  • Culex sp D (Culex bihaicolus)
  • Culex sp E (Culex alogistus)
  • Culex sp F (Culex corrigani)
  • H. mesoden (Aedes sp.)
  • L. asulleptus (Limatus asulleptus)
  • Toxorrynchites sp A (Toxorrynchites hypoptes)
  • Trichoprosop sp A (Haemagogus equinus)
  • Trichoprosop sp B (Trichoprosopon digitatum)

• Dolichopodidae

  • Diptera sp H

• Ephydridae

  • Diptera sp F

• Oribatidae

  • Oribatid sp A

• Phoridae

  • Megaselia sp A

• Pseudostigmatidae

  • Mecistogaster sp A (Mecistogaster sp)
  • Mecistogaster sp B (Mecistogaster sp)
  • Megaloprepus (Megaloprepus caerulatus)

• Psychodidae

  • Psychodid black
  • Psychodid sp A

• Scirtidae

  • Scirtid sp A

• Staphylinidae

  • Beetle sp F

• Stratiomyidae

  • Odontomyia sp A

• Syrphidae: Subfamily Eristalinae

  • Syrphid sp A

• Unknown

  • Unknown A
  • Unknown B

• Unknown Coleoptera

  • Beetle sp A
  • Beetle sp B
  • Beetle sp C
  • Beetle sp D
  • Beetle sp E
  • Beetle sp G

• Unknown Diptera

  • Diptera sp B
  • Diptera sp D
  • Diptera sp E
  • Diptera sp G
  • Diptera sp I
  • Diptera sp J
  • Giant pupa
  • Tabanid sp A
  • Tipulid sp A

• Unknown Hemiptera

  • Hemiptera sp A

• Unknown Isopoda

  • Isopod sp A

• Unknown Lepidoptera

  • Lepidoptera sp A

• Unknown Nematoda

  • Nematoda

• Unknown Oligochaete

  • Oligochaete sp A
  • Oligochaete sp B

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Drawings by Michael Millar. Website by Kelvin Kou.